Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-12-31

why did they nor furry . little longer
in the world, and have some Of It's en-
J1Juents and amusements and recre-
atlons9" J. say TO such men of the
world, You are greatly mistaken"
ana before | get through | will show
that those people VINO stay out of the
Kingdom God have the ~hardships and
~self-denials, while those who come in
have the joys and the satisfactions.
This morning, in the name of the
King Of heaven and earth, | serve a
writ OF cjeclment upon all the sinful
and polluted who have ~squatted on the
domain of earthly pleasure as though
1t belonged to them. while | claim, in
behalf of the good and the pure and
the true, the eternal Inheritance which
God has given them.
INNOCENT RECREATIoNs.
Hitherto, Christian philanthropists,
clerical and lay, have busted themselves
chiefly in denouncing sinful recrea-
tons; but J feel Ne have no right 10
stand before men and women in whose
hearts there is a desire for recreation
amounting to positive necessity, de-
%nouncing this anG that and the other
thing, when We . not propose to give
them something letter. God helping
me this morning, and with reference
to my last account, | shall enter upon.
a EtlApn not ,,u,,u1 -, e4r,.c,syinr bat,
a subject which | think ought to be pre-
scented at this time. / propose now 10
las before you some of the r%ecreations
which are not only innocent, but posi-
lively helpful and advantageous.
In the first place, | commend, among
indoor recreations, music, vocal and
instrumental. Among the first things
created was the bird, so that the earth
might have music at the start. This
world, which began with SO sweet a
serenade, is finally to be demolished
amidst the ringing blast Of the arch
music AT the start, there shall DC music
at the close. While this
HEAVENLY ART
Has often been dragged into the uses
of superstition and dissipation. We all
know it may be the means of high
moral culture. Oh, it is n grand thing
to have our children brought mp amidst
the sound Of cultured voices and amidst
the melody Of musical instruments
There is in this art an Undesirable
fascination for the household. Let all
those families who have the means to
afford il, have flute or harp. or piano
or organ. AS soon as the hand is
large enough to compass the keys,
teach it how to pick out the melody.
Let al our young men try this heavenly
art upon their nature. Those who
have gone into it fully have found in
1t iilimitable recreation and amuse-
ment. Dark days, stormy nights, sea.
cons Of sickness, business disasters,
will DO little toward depressing the
soul which can gallop of over musical
keys or oar in jubilant lay. 1t will
cure pain. 1t will rest fatigue. 1t will
quell passion. 1t will revive health.
1t will reclaim dissipation. 1t will
strengthen the immortal soul. In the
battle OF Waterloo Wellington saw that
the Hlghlanders wele falling back. He
said, What is the matter toere?' He
wa told that the band of music had
ceased playing, and be called up the
pipers and ordered them TO strike up
an inspiritng air; and 40 sooner did
they strike the air than the Highland
ers were rallied. and helped to win the
day. Oh ye who have been routed in
the conflict of life, try by the force OF
music 10 rally your scattered battal-
Ions.
/ am glad to know that in our great
cities there is hardly a night in which
there are not concerts, where with the
best musical instruments and sweetest
voices, peop.e may find entertainment.
Patronize such entertainments when
they are afforded you. Buy season
tickets when you can, for the pail
harmonic" and the Handel and
Haydn societies. Feel that the dollar
and a half or two dollars that you
spend for the purpose of hearing az
artist play or sing is a profitable in
vestment. Let your Stoinway halls
and your Academies of Music roar
with the reclamation Of apprcciative
audiences assembled at the concert or
the oratorio.
THE GYMNASIUM.
Still further: | commend. as worthy
Of their support, the gymnasium. This
institution is gaining in favor every
year, and | know of nothing more free
from dissipation. or more calculated to
r~ecuperate the physical and mental en-
ergies. While there are a good many
people who have employed this institu-
ton, there is q vast number who ap
ignorant of its ex,ellences. There are
men with cramped chests and weak
sides and respondent spirits who
through the gymnasium might be
reused up to exuberance n exhilara-
ton of life. There are many Christian
people respondent from year to year,
who might, through such an institution,
be benefited in their spiritual relations.
There are Christian people who seem to
think that it is a good sign to be poor
"; and because Richard Baxter and
Robert Hall were invalids, they think
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